3 Dec 2016

Governor vs Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal over Army

Mamata Banerjee reacted to governor's criticism by saying that he was speaking in the "voice of the Central government".

This is not the first time that Banerjee had made her dissatisfaction known with West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.

After West Bengal governor Keshri Nath Tripathi stated that any allegations made against the army was “unfortunate”, Mamata Banerjee reacted by saying that the governor was speaking in the “voice of the Central government”. Tripathi, who said, “Every person should take care in making allegations against a responsible organisation like the Army…Don’t let down the Army. Don’t defame the army” – was reacting to Mamata Banerjee’s claims that the Army had carried out an exercise in the state, including near the state secretariat, without due communication with the government and in spite of an “explicit denial of permission” by the Kolkata Police. The army had countered stating that the government’s allegations were false and that due protocol had been followed.

Banerjee countered saying, “The Governor is speaking in the voice of the Central Government. He wasn’t in the city for about 8 days. Before making statements, all details should be checked. It is very unfortunate.” Previously, she had maintained that the army was being used by the Centre as “political vendetta” and while dubbing the matter as a “grave” issue had said that the government had initiated legal action in the issue.

Previously, Tripathi had also made comments in support of demonetisation, which were in sharp contrast to the view. The move would bring down inflation and boost growth, he said. “People having negative thoughts about it should shed that. If we succeed, then this will bring sustained growth in the economy,” Tripathi had said.

This is not the first time that Banerjee had made her dissatisfaction known with West Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi. Before the 2016 Assembly polls, Banerjee had communicated with the Centre and requested a change prior to the polls. The concern was also communicated by Banerjee to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during her trip to Delhi in September 2015. Banerjee had launched a scathing attack against the Centre for allegedly running a “parallel government” through governors.

At a conclave organised by Delhi’s AAP government on ‘Cooperative Federalism’ in September, Mamata had said she was “shocked to know, thanks to a letter from the home ministry, that the Bengal Governor had written to the Centre for Central forces for the civic elections in the state.” She had also faulted the governor for calling officials, including police officers, to the Raj Bhavan even “when law and order is the state’s prerogative.”

The TMC has consistently alleged that under Tripathi, the Raj Bhavan had turned into “the state headquarters of the BJP”. “The Governor is always willing to lend an ear to the BJP. Similarly, the BJP is always keen to meet the Governor. It is a problem when the Governor interferes with the state’s functioning,” said a TMC leader.

Senior TMC leader Partha Chatterjee reiterated Banerjee and said, “In this entire issue, it appear that the Governor is speaking in the voice of the BJP and their political agenda.”